Beyond Resume

"I only knew Basel as a city in Switzerland."

That's how Sanmita Sengupta describes her entry into credit risk modeling - a field she'd accidentally stumble into and spend the next 20 years mastering.

In this episode of Beyond Resume, I reconnect with my Statistics postgrad batchmate to explore what it really takes to build deep domain expertise in one of the most complex areas of financial services.

Sanmita's journey spans India, Qatar, and Singapore. She's navigated PRA, MAS, and HKMA regulatory frameworks. She's built Basel II IRB models, designed IFRS 9 provisioning frameworks, and guided organizations through Basel 3.1 transitions.

But what makes her story compelling isn't just the technical depth - it's the honesty, accountability, and intellectual humility she brings to the work.

KEY TOPICS:

- The unplanned pivot from Pharma Analytics to Basel II modeling

- The regulatory meeting that went sideways—and the recovery that saved a massive RWA release

- Why "perfect models" don't exist—and why admitting limitations builds trust

- Emerging challenges: Climate Risk integration and AI-ML model transparency

- Her philosophy: "Good credit risk modeling is about common sense and business discipline"

- Working across cultures and regulatory regimes

- The "buck-stops-here" attitude that powered her career

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

→ How meticulous preparation and owning mistakes turned a failed meeting into regulatory approval

→ Why staying informed about regulatory thinking matters more than just compliance

→ The challenge of incorporating 30-year climate projections into mortgage default models

→ Why great working relationships don't require personal rapport

→ The power of setting realistic expectations rather than overselling

Sanmita represents something rare: deep specialization combined with intellectual humility. She admits when she doesn't know something. She sets realistic expectations. She values common sense as much as statistical rigor.

This is for anyone building expertise in a technical domain, navigating regulatory complexity, or trying to understand what real mastery looks like beyond the resume.

From Beyond Resume with Kausik Kumar - where careers and analytics come alive.

Phil Marquis breaks his own cardinal rule - building a model without business support - and turns it into his biggest win. The key? Deep business understanding and the ability to "paint a story with numbers" that executives could relate to.

In 60 seconds, a skeptical division leader became his biggest advocate. Not because of statistical rigor, but because Phil translated technical insights into business value.

The difference between models that die in boardrooms and models that get funded? Business translation skills.

From Beyond Resume with Kausik Kumar.

Full episode available on all podcast platforms.

Phil Marquis explains why servant leadership - prioritizing team needs over personal ambition - is the competitive advantage most leaders overlook. He shares a powerful example of putting team members in front of executives instead of taking credit, and how this built loyalty that couldn't be bought.

"A leader is only as successful as their team." When you empower others, you multiply your impact.

From Beyond Resume with Kausik Kumar.

Full episode available on all podcast platforms.

Phil Marquis addresses the fear many professionals face: AI displacement. His take? Worry won't keep you relevant—adaptability will. A quick 30-second reality check on what actually matters in the AI era.

From Beyond Resume with Kausik Kumar.

Full episode available on all podcast platforms.

Phil Marquis addresses the fear many professionals face: AI displacement. His take? Worry won't keep you relevant—adaptability will. A quick 30-second reality check on what actually matters in the AI era.

From Beyond Resume with Kausik Kumar.Full episode available on all podcast platforms.

Phil Marquis, owner of Marquis Consulting Services with nearly 25 years of experience, shares his journey from analyst to leadership and reveals why soft skills matter as much as technical expertise in analytics.In this premiere episode of Beyond Resume, Phil discusses pivotal career moments, the importance of business context over pure technical ability, and how servant leadership has defined his approach to building analytics teams.🎯 KEY TOPICS COVERED:The Origin Story- Transitioning from individual contributor to analytics leader- The meaning of "balance" in technical teams- Building soft skills alongside technical expertiseThe Breakthrough Moment - Taking a calculated risk: building a model without business support- The 60-second moment that changed everything- Translating technical insights into business valueTechnical Evolution & AI- The shift from traditional modeling to machine learning- Why soft skills are the competitive advantage in the AI era- What to focus on when AI tools automate technical workLeadership Philosophy- Servant leadership: putting team needs over personal ambition- Building trust through people-first leadership- Developing team members and creating growth opportunities⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction02:00 - Phil's Origin Story08:00 - The Breakthrough Moment15:00 - Technical Insights: AI & ML23:00 - Leadership & Team Building29:00 - Lightning Round32:00 - Final Takeaway💼 ABOUT THE GUEST:Phil MarquisOwner, Marquis Consulting Services LLCNearly 25 years in analytics and AI leadershipFormer Fortune 500 analytics executiveSpecializes in: Business partner engagement, influencing executives, building advocacy, career development, and translating business needs to data science teams.🎙️ ABOUT THE HOST:Kausik KumarBuilding analytics teams and AI strategies that drive enterprise transformation for 20+ years🎬 ABOUT BEYOND RESUME:Beyond Resume explores the intersection of innovation and human experience through authentic conversations with analytics and AI leaders.Each 25-minute episode uncovers:- Real stories behind successful careers- Pivotal moments that defined leadership journeys - Technical insights from building analytics teams at scale- The human side of data science and AI leadershipPerfect for:- Data analysts starting their careers- Data scientists advancing into leadership- Analytics managers building teams- Anyone interested in AI/ML careers- Students exploring analytics paths